.jpg?type=hq)
Finn Allen and Suryakumar Yadav (Source:X)
Explosive opener Finn Allen delivered one of the most destructive innings in T20 World Cup history to guide New Zealand into the final of the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.
Playing at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, New Zealand defeated the South Africa by nine wickets in the first semi-final with a dominant display.
Chasing a target of 170, New Zealand made the chase look effortless. Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, while Tim Seifert contributed a quick 58 from 33 balls.
The pair added 117 runs for the opening wicket, effectively ending the contest early. The Kiwis reached the target in just 12.5 overs, one of the fastest successful chases in a T20 World Cup knockout match.
Earlier, South Africa posted 169/8 in 20 overs. They were in trouble early after losing the early wickets of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton.
In the middle order, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs made valuable contributions to help stabilise the innings, before Marco Jansen blasted an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls.b
Finn Allen's blunt response about facing India or England in final
After the NZ vs SA Match, Finn Allen remained calm when asked about the final opponent. With New Zealand already through to the title clash, they will face the winner of the second semi-final between the India and England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Read More: Finn Allen and Tim Seifert shatter T20 World Cup partnership record as NZ pummel UAE
Speaking to Star Sports, Finn said the team was not focused on the opponent but on playing their best cricket.
Question - India or England? Whom would you like to face in the Final?
Finn Allen - It’ll be the Final, so doesn’t matter who’ll reach. We’ve to play our best cricket. (Star Sports).
Records broken by Finn Allen's stunning knock
Finn Allen reached his hundred in 33 balls, the fastest ever in the tournament's history. The previous record was held by Chris Gayle, who scored a 47-ball century for the West Indies against England at the Wankhede Stadium during the 2016 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Allen’s knock now sits at the top of the list, surpassing legendary performances from players like Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum.
- 33 – Finn Allen (New Zealand) vs South Africa, Kolkata, 2026
- 47 – Chris Gayle (West Indies) vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016
- 50 – Chris Gayle (West Indies) vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2007
- 50 – Harry Brook (England) vs Pakistan, Pallekele, 2026
- 51 – Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) vs Bangladesh, Pallekele, 2012
It is important to mention that Finn Allen’s 33-ball hundred also placed him among the fastest centuries in all T20Is. The overall record is still held by Sahil Chauhan, who scored a 27-ball century in 2024. However, Allen now shares the fifth-fastest T20I hundred.
Finn also recorded the highest individual score in a T20 World Cup knockout match with his unbeaten 100. He surpassed the previous record of 96* set by Tillakaratne Dilshan for Sri Lanka in the 2009 semi-final.
Other notable performances on the list include Virat Kohli’s 89* for India in 2016 and Alex Hales’s 86* for England in the 2022 semi-final.
Read More- Pakistan Crowd Goes Wild As Fan Pulls Off 'Spiderman' Catch In TapeBall Match
